African veterinarians urged to report animal diseases and emergencies – Business

Veterinarians in Africa have been urged to communicate animal diseases and crisis situations, particularly transboundary animal diseases and animal health emergencies.

The call was made by the World Organization for Animal Health (Woah) representative in southern Africa, Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo, during a five-day Woah regional training on risks and crises for animal health emergencies in Windhoek on last month.

Letshwenyo said veterinarians are often not good communicators and, as a result, do not communicate with those affected by animal diseases and emergencies.

“Collaboration with the public and other stakeholders is essential to raising public awareness and fostering understanding. We need to be truthful in reporting animal diseases as this would also help protect human health,” said Letshwenyo.

He further said that it is the primary responsibility of veterinarians to monitor, control and predict animal diseases.

According to Letshwenyo, Woah’s greatest achievement was the total eradication in 2011 of rinderpest, a transboundary disease that has affected livestock for many years.

“So, for us this is a mission accomplished,” he said.

The training aimed to improve participants’ understanding of the fundamentals of risk communication and promote national and regional networking among participants to enable them to develop and evaluate risk communication strategies.

Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform chief veterinarian and Woah delegate Albertina Shilongo said veterinarians deal with many animal health issues but sometimes fail to communicate these issues to farmers to improve their understanding.

Shilongo gave the example of when there is an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Namibia. He said a protest will arise among farmers as this will result in a ban on the sale of animals, which means they will not make money. He said this is a result of inefficient communication with farmers by veterinarians.

He further said that efficient communication is important and it is crucial for veterinarians to use the media to communicate animal diseases and crises.

The workshop was attended by participants from Namibia, Algeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

It was funded by Global Affairs Canada’s Arms Threat Reduction Program.

Founded in 1924 and headquartered in Paris, France, Woah is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates, supports and promotes animal health control.

Woah’s main objectives are to control epizootic and zoonotic diseases and prevent their spread. Other objectives include the exchange of transparent scientific information, international solidarity, health security, the promotion of veterinary services and animal welfare.

Woah is recognized as a reference organization by the World Trade Organization and in 2022 had a total of 183 member states, with 13 regional and subregional representatives.